The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-11-22
A NIGHT OF HORROR.
Dangerous Journey on Horse
back
THROUGH THE ARKANSAS SWAMPs.

and looking for horse Bay Beauty had car
ried me many long mile from the distant Al
leghenies, and feared that, undor the hard
ships yet TO be undergone, it was possible that
she might break down. Finally l succeeded
in selling her and purchasing another horse.
Mia, my new acquisition, was described in her
"papers" as "a black or brown mare, about
nine or ten years old, 14i hands high, and a
good saddler." And so she was all of these
and much more. In q few days she had
learned to know me perfectly. All day long L
could ride with the knotted reins lying loosely
upon the neck, and direct her by verbal COM
mands, aided by the very slightest pressure of
either knee.
| used the military commands, and she
obeyed as willingly and swiftly as would the
most intelligent soldier. ] took long rides
near Memphis, and, camping at night in the
! open, Nita was turned loose to Craze. In the
morning she was often nowhere in sight, but
the sound of my shrill hunting whistle would
find her out, and soon I would hear her rapid
| hoofg beating the prairie as she would dash up
| at full galIop, and thrusting her soft velYety
muzzle over my shoulder, would whinny in
| evident delight.
On my return to Memphis from one of these
| excursions | found telegram ordering me to
| proceed with all speed to Little Rock Ark
stopping at Des Arc ON the way
Mia and | crossed the great river on a
steamboat going to Mound City. We left the
boat at Wade's Landing struck out westward
for the Backtish. The distance from Mound
City to Little Rock is about one hundred and
ninety miles, of which more than one hundred
and twenty-five lie through swamps. After
leaving Mound City the road rs far as the
Blackish was broad, smooth and level, and in
no wise indicative Of the character Of The road
yet to be travelled. The mighty Mississippi at
this part OF its course spreads ont on its western
bank into broad, vast sWamps thicllly grown
with great trees. Many years ago q military
road was cut and built through these swampS.
and today an experienced woodaman or travel
CT can still follow the old road by noticing The
gaps III the trees. Several rivers run through
the great swamps, and enterprising colonists
have established little hamlets at the points
where the road reaches each river. There
they have constructed rude ferries, with boats
of various types, sometimes propelled by the
force Of the stream itself, the direction being
guided by an ingenious system Of lines, but
usually the great fiat-bottomed raft or beat
would make the traverse by sheer muscle
applied to long poles. We stopped all
night at a friendly farm house, and next
morning bright and early started for the St.
Francis river. Half q mile from our starting
point the road entered the swamp. Nita's hoofs
disappeared below the water, and in all that
day | did not see them again. 1t was the
Weirdest, strargest ride have ever taken, and
many Il thousand miles have i covered in these
many years on horseback and in many ciilnos.
Great columnar trees grew straight up, shoot
ing ambltiously skyw0rd, seeking the generous
Sunlight. Shaft after shaft, repeated endlesslv
as far rs the eye could reach these gray, moss
grown pillars crowded with overhead the
great, thick ovcrshadoWing arch of foliage
shutting ont The sunlight. Between them
ran internrale corridors filed with
strange, pailahe shadows of wonder
lul tones below and everywhere
thewild swamp water Not like ether water
is this. bat alive with a mysterious life Of lis
own. Blown is it everywhere. from the SOM